Buy Lonicera 'Celestial' (PBR) honeysuckle: Compact, and said to have a better resistance to disease

This climber is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.

Position: full sun or partial shade

Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil

Rate of growth: average to fast-growing

Flowering period:July to September

Hardiness: fully hardy

The twining stems of this new honeysuckle are laden with clusters of scented orange-pink flowers from an early age really stand out against the rich green foliage from midsummer to early summer. It's compact, so good for pots, but the breeder claims that it shows a better resistance to disease than many of the old favourites (which often succumb to mildew), really makes it stand out from the crowd.

Garden care: Cut back established plants after flowering, removing a third of the flowering shoots. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base of the plant in early spring.

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Eventual height & spread

Bought this last year BECAUSE it is supposed to be more resistant to mildew. I have rhubarb and custard and it is looking great but my small Celestial is not looking happy and yesterday I had to spray for mildew. Same soil same border just further along :o(
I have kept it well watered as I know lonicera likes moist.
Any ideas?

Kat

2018-06-12

Hello,
Yes, these plants are said to be more resistant to mildew than many of the older varieties, but that's not to say it is completely mildew-proof - and the reasons this one has succumbed could be small variations on growing conditions. For example, mildew tends to take hold if the plant is growing in dryer soils, or if there is reduced airflow around the crown of the plant. If one of your plants is growing near well established plants, then the soil will tend to be drier as the larger plants will be taking up the available water. Also, if the plant is sheltered by its neighbours, it wont be getting as much air as a plant in a more exposed position.

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